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Sikich Series on Tax Reform: Guidance on Gifting – What It Means for Your Taxes

Sikich

Dec 11 2018

3 min read

On November 20, 2018, the IRS issued proposed regulations which further clarified the taxation of past and future gifts under the new tax law. It provides guidance on how gifts will be treated in the future and how the tax will be mathematically calculated to avoid unfair results.

As a reminder, the new tax law passed on December 20, 2017. It raised the lifetime estate/gift tax exemption from $5.45 million to $11.18 million for a single individual ($10.9 million to $22.36 million for a married couple electing to split their gifts.)

The Pros and Cons of New Gifting Regulations

The good news is that this means that each of us can pass this amount of money to our children or other chosen beneficiary free and clear of federal gift, estate and generation skipping taxes.

The bad news (aside from the fact that you may not have $11 million dollars to pass on!) is that this amount is set to revert to the lower amounts starting January 1, 2026.

The fact that this amount keeps changing has some of us in the estate planning world a bit concerned; would gifts made while the number is at the higher level still be subject to tax? Especially under a complicated five-step calculation that considers all previous gifts at different levels in place when the previous gifts were made? It is complicated but under the prior wording of the law (before these proposed regulations) there were several situations where we would see tax on prior gifts in the future that were not subject to tax when made (a concept referred to as “clawback” that is a nightmare to planners!)

These proposed regulations are not yet law as they have not been finalized, but they promote what was the intended outlook of the increase in lifetime exemption. This is meant to encourage transfer of assets without incurring transfer taxes.

Please consult a tax and estate planning expert advisor to see how the new laws apply to your specific facts and circumstances in order to minimize the estate tax your family will owe in the future and thereby maximize the assets you transfer to your family and favorite charitable causes. You can also reference our previous article on estate planning for more information.

This publication contains general information only and Sikich is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or any other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should you use it as a basis for any decision, action or omission that may affect you or your business. Before making any decision, taking any action or omitting an action that may affect you or your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. In addition, this publication may contain certain content generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) language model. You acknowledge that Sikich shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by you or any person who relies on this publication.

About the Author

Sikich

Sikich is a global company specializing in technology-enabled professional services. With more than 1,900 employees, Sikich draws on a diverse portfolio of technology solutions to deliver transformative digital strategies and is comprised of one of the largest CPA firms in the United States. From corporations and not-for-profits to state and local governments and federal agencies, Sikich clients utilize a broad spectrum of services* and products to help them improve performance and achieve long-term, strategic goals. *Securities offered through Sikich Corporate Finance LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. 